A Week of Gratitude and Inflatable Santas December 2, 2014

Hey everybody! 

This week was great. Thanksgiving was wonderful. The senior couple we serve with had us over to their house for dinner with all the missionaries in our ward (picture below). 

On Saturday we all worked on a service project together at a members house that they are building. We put up dry wall, compounded, and sanded and stained the deck. It was awesome! I feel like I'm ready to build my own house or something haha. They also fed us breakfast, which was a horrifying experience...menudo. Also known as cow stomach. Fortunately the family didn't care at all if we didn't like it (the husband hates it), because I only ate one piece of it and literally gagged. Agh. That is not and can not be called meat...it's definitely innards. And it turns out I'm a weakling in the food department. Haha let's just say I'm praying to not have to eat it again. 

My companion has really been struggling lately so the work pace slowed down a lot. However, last night we had miracle after miracle happen with finding people we've been looking for for a while and were about to drop. This next week is looking very promising! We are still having a hard time with getting people to church but I really think that the spirit of Christmas is just what these people need for that extra push and desire! 

It's amazing being able to feel the love that Christ has for His children work through you. He loves us so much and is ALWAYS there and always listening. I'm so grateful of for the beginning of this season where the whole world recognizes Him. Without Him there would be no purpose to life, no hope, and nothing to look forward to. I'm so grateful for Him, my Savior, my best friend. He really is our truest and most constant friend. 

I'm constantly amazed and grateful for His trust in me to labor in His vineyard as a representative of Him. I am so weak and imperfect but because of Him and His atonement I can try again every day to be better and work harder, and thank goodness for that! 

Love you all!

Hermana Dearden

(This is the picture I wanted to send last week--beautiful Diana! She is going to be confirmed this Sunday. We can't wait!)